Obama Calls Romney, Congratulates Him On GOP Nod

President Barack Obama has called former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to congratulate him on securing the Republican nomination.

The president told Romney he "looked forward to an important and healthy debate about America's future" and wished the governor and his family well through the upcoming presidential campaign.

The Wednesday morning call came as Obama's campaign was opening a new critique of Romney, focusing attention on his record as Massachusetts governor.

Romney seized the GOP presidential nomination with his primary win in Texas on Tuesday night. That pushed him past the 1,144-delegate threshold he needed to claim the nod.

 
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)